NDAO - Records Manager

Police Digital Service (PDS) is recruiting on behalf of the NPCC National Data & Analytics Office - a dedicated national capability transforming data use in policing.

NDAO - Records Manager. Permanent, Full time. Salary £50,000 per annum.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a ground-breaking function within policing which will shape the future of data and analytics in UK law enforcement and help to utilise policing data to better protect the public. The NDAO will ensure:

• Responsible data use across law enforcement
• Improved data governance and standardised datasets
• Enhanced data analytics services to support operational decision-making
• Professionalisation of data roles within policing
• A more integrated data-sharing ecosystem across forces

For the first time, UK policing will have a recognised, accredited approach to data and analytics, helping forces to work smarter and more effectively without compromising security or integrity.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain national policies, standards, and procedures for records management across UK policing, ensuring alignment with MoPI, APP Information Management, DPA/GDPR, and NPDAB strategic direction, deputising for the Senior Record Manager as applicable.
• Support forces to adopt consistent lifecycle management practices by providing guidance, frameworks, self-assessment tools, and targeted improvement support.
• Provide national leadership on the creation, classification, retention, archiving, review, and disposal of police records, ensuring that processes reduce risk, support operational effectiveness, and align with statutory requirements.
• Work closely with PDS, Home Office programmes, and NDAO specialists to ensure records management requirements are embedded in national systems, data models, and digital capabilities. Chairs subgroups of the Records Managers Practitioners Group (RMPG) ensuring delivery of these groups. Acts as deputy chair of the RMPG.
• Provide expertise with national audit, assurance, and compliance activities relating to record management, identifying risks, gaps, and force level issues requiring escalation or targeted support.
• Ensure records management practices support efficient and accurate responses to SARs, FOI requests, legal disclosure, public inquiries, and other statutory obligations.
• Promote high standards of security, confidentiality, and integrity across all records, ensuring compliance with information assurance, security classification, and retention requirements.
• Deliver a guidance, learning materials, and awareness programmes to improve recordkeeping capability and culture across forces and national bodies.
• Engage with forces, NPCC portfolios, NPDAB groups, PDS, Home Office, and external partners to ensure national alignment and collective ownership of records management needs.
• Work collaboratively with technology and data teams to embed records management principles into new digital systems, ensuring metadata, accessibility, and retention needs are met.

What you need to succeed in the role

• Qualifications: A relevant degree in data management, computer science, or a related field is preferred. Professional certifications in records management Professional certifications in records management (e.g. professional qualification from and/or membership of a relevant professional body or association (e.g. ASLIB, Records Management Society, CILIP), project management (e.g., PRINCE2, Agile), or relevant data-related qualifications are advantageous.
• Data Strategy and Transformation: Comprehensive understanding of data-related transformation programs at a national level, including complex dependencies and external relationships. Ability to develop strategies that drive significant change in data capabilities.
• Legal Compliance: In-depth knowledge of relevant data-related legislation and legal compliance frameworks, e.g., Freedom of Information (FOI Act 2000), Management of Police Information (MoPI), Investigatory Powers Act 2016 etc, ensuring adherence to data protection and privacy laws, ensuring adherence to data protection and privacy laws.
• Data Architecture and Security: Familiarity with data architecture, data assurance, ethics, and security frameworks that govern record management practices including a demonstrable understanding of digital records systems, metadata standards, digital preservation, and information assurance principles.
• Data Performance Metrics: Ability to define, track, and interpret metrics that demonstrate progress, improvements, and the value derived from investments in data infrastructure.
• Ethics and Proportionality: Understanding of ethical considerations regarding the use of data, advanced analytics, and data science within the policing and national security contexts.
• Management: Extensive experience in management roles within records management at a large organisation, demonstrating success in driving organisational change.

Diversity, equity and inclusion

We are committed to equal opportunities for all and will not discriminate on any grounds. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible span of experience. All applicants will be considered without attention to age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, parental status, nationality, neurodiversity or disability status.

Working Arrangements

This is a remote role with some national travel required to attend meetings.

All applicants must be eligible to undergo NPPV3 (Non Police Personnel Vetting Level 3) and SC vetting clearances. Successful applicants will require NPPV3 clearance to have been cleared before starting with PDS.

Please note, we may choose to close the advert early if we receive a high volume of applications for this role so please endeavour to complete your application as soon as possible.

Closing date: Friday 11th Sep :59pm